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    Dribble master Morgan Rogers offers unbeatable value-for-money for Dream Team gaffers

    HEAVY hitters like Erling Haaland (£8.9m), Cole Palmer (£6.5m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) are big players in the world of Dream Team but their immense popularity means their returns often have little impact on Mini League standings and overall rank.Manchester City’s No9 appears in 72.6% of teams which means the majority of gaffers are in the same boat when he plays.It’s often the case that the cheaper, lesser-owned players are the ones who actually make a difference.Take Morgan Rogers (£3m) for example.A reminder that Rogers performed this celebration before Cole PalmerCredit: Dream TeamThe Aston Villa midfielder is currently the top performer in Gameweek 8 having banked 18 points from two outings.He scored against Fulham on Saturday, by virtue of a helpful deflection, but produced an even more impressive display against Bologna on Tuesday night.Rogers assisted Jhon Duran’s (£3m) goal against the Serie A outfit and earned three bonus points as a useful cherry on top, largely because of his impressive dribbling statistics.The 22-year-old registered SEVEN successful dribbles against Bologna to take his tally for the season to 31.MOST SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES THIS SEASONMorgan Rogers – 31Mohammed Kudus – 29Jeremy Doku – 24Adama Traore – 21Eberechi Eze – 20Iliman Ndiaye – 20Bukayo Saka – 18Omari Hutchinson – 18Savinho – 18Luis Diaz – 17Most read in FootballThere’s generally a positive correlation between the most prolific dribblers and bonus points and so Rogers’ supremacy in this department is hugely encouraging.Catch him if you canCredit: PAThe England Under-21 star was used sparingly in the second half of 2023/24 following his mid-season transfer from Championship side Middlesbrough but he’s established himself as a regular starter this campaign.In fact, Pau Torres (£3.5m) and Youri Tielemans (£4m) are the only outfield players to have played more league minutes for Villa at this stage.Rogers’ overall tally of 61 points puts him joint-12th among Dream Team midfielders but the key to his viability is his affordability.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWEven now, after a spree of 41 points from his last five appearances, he’s available for just £3m prior to Gameweek 9 – although his price will inevitably increase when the next changes occur.To put that into perspective, only two other players among the top 50 in the overall rankings are currently available at a lower price – Christian Eriksen (£2.8m) and Dejan Kulusevski (£2.7m), who both have fewer points than Rogers.This is all to say Villa’s No27 offers exceptional value for money.A Dream Team gem in terms of value-for-moneyCredit: AlamyRogers, who features in 9.7% of teams at the time of writing, has passed the eye test from the get-go but it was notable that his returns didn’t align with the impressive nature of his performances across the first few Gameweeks of the season.READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, he’s reaped his deserved rewards more recently and looks a solid long-term selection.Essentially, Rogers is a key player for a top-four side, one with European fixtures to bolster their schedule, and an excellent enabler at £3m.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Son Heung-min marks return with goal and assist (of sorts) to put Dream Team managers on notice

    SON HEUNG-MIN (£5.1m) returned from injury at the weekend and marked his comeback with a 13-point haul at West Ham’s expense.Tottenham went 1-0 down to their London rivals in Saturday’s early kick-off but stormed back to win 4-1 with their captain contributing to three of his side’s goals in one way or another during an eight-minute blitz in the second half.Picture perfectCredit: Dream TeamSon played a smart pass to Destiny Udogie (£3.3m) who in turn set up Yves Bissouma (£2.5m) for the hosts’ second goal.Three minutes later, it was the South Korean superstar’s shot that forced Jear-Clair Todibo (£2.5m) and Alphonse Areola (£2.4m) into an awkward mess of limbs that resulted in an own goal.And just two minutes later, Son capped the victory with a trademark goal of his own from the left flank.From a Dream Team perspective, the 32-year-old was perhaps slightly fortunate to be credited with a ‘fantasy assist’ by stats providers Opta for his contribution to Areola’s own goal but it could be argued he made his own luck with a bright all-round performance.A reminder that Dream Team lock in scores relating to Opta’s data 12 hours after the final whistle for every relevant fixture – we bow to their wisdom on such matters.Son has registered three double-digit hauls already this seasonCredit: GettyThe broader point is that Son’s performance should have put Dream Team managers on notice.Naturally, his ownership plummeted when he was injured – he missed three games across Gameweeks 6 and 7 – but a 13-point haul upon his return should spark more than a few transfers.Spurs’ long-serving No7 has scored four goals and provided three assists in eight outings this season for a return of 63 points.Most read in FootballHis average of 7.9 points-per-game is only bettered by Erling Haaland (£8.9m), Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) and Nicolas Jackson (£4.3m) among forwards.Postecoglou has rotated in the Europa League so far this seasonCredit: RexWith the three points secured, Ange Postecoglou opted to substitute Son at the 70-minute mark on Saturday and to what extent he features against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday night remains to be seen.But as it stands, Son has to be considered a decent option for Gameweek 9 when Spurs will take on Crystal Palace (Premier League) and Manchester City (Carabao Cup).The Eagles are one of just four top-flight teams yet to win a league game in 2024/25 and currently find themselves 18th in the table.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWSpurs have not been infallible by any means and their capitulation at Brighton before the international break will linger long in the memory but they have now won six of their last seven games in all competitions.Plus, only Man City have scored more league goals than Postecoglou’s adventurous side at this stage.As a proven performer, Son has to be considered an appealing option now he’s available again, especially given his side’s attack-first approach.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Youri Tielemans mixing it with Dream Team’s elite midfielders despite not scoring goals

    YOURI TIELEMANS (£4m) is long overdue some praise from Dream Team HQ.Truth be told, we ignored the Aston Villa midfielder’s lofty ranking earlier in the season because we foolishly thought his returns would fall away sooner rather than later.We owe Tielemans an apologyCredit: Dream TeamHowever, with the campaign now into its eighth Gameweek, the Belgium international is still mixing it with the most successful assets in his position and deserves suitable recognition.At the time of writing, Tielemans is ranked eighth among midfielders with an overall tally of 72 points.For context, he’s just one point behind James Maddison (£4.6m) and five shy of Brennan Johnson (£4m), who was by far and away the most popular recruit in the game over the international break.What’s remarkable is that Tielemans has scored just one goal in all competitions this season – against Young Boys in the Champions League back in Gameweek 4.In fact, he’s registered just three shots on target in ten outings.Tielemans’ only goal this season came against Young BoysCredit: GettyThe 27-year-old’s relative lack of goal threat has been partially offset by his creative output.He’s provided four assists and created six big chances in total; only three midfielders rank above him in each metric at present.Even so, one goal and four assists accounts for just 18 points, which is the lowest total earned through goal involvements among the top ten midfielders.Most read in FootballThe secret to Tielemans’ success is that he’s excelled in other aspects of the game.His tally of 14 bonus points is only bettered by Maddison and Eberechi Eze (£4.9m) among all players while just three players in his position have made more tackles.Tielemans is a key player for Emery’s sideCredit: ReutersThe statistics reinforce what the Villa Park faithful have observed of Tielemans, he’s a well-rounded midfield player who ticks a lot of boxes.Despite having scored just one goal, he averages 7.2 points-per-game in 2024/25.For comparison, Luis Diaz (£4.6m), Alejandro Garnacho (£3.6m), Mohammed Kudus (£4.8m), Anthony Gordon (£4.4m), Morgan Rogers (£3m) and Bruno Fernandes (£5.3m) are all among the list of midfielders who average fewer points-per-game than Tielemans this season.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWWhether the Belgian can maintain his lofty rank going forward remains to be seen but he won’t lack fixtures with the Villains’ Champions League commitments bolstering their schedule this term.In fact, Unai Emery’s side are due to host Bologna this evening and so there’s every chance Tielemans will improve his rank further before Gameweek 8 concludes.He’s a player to monitor closely at the very least…BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Alejandro Garnacho claps back with 15-point haul after being ditched by thousands of Dream Team bosses

    THOUSANDS of Dream Team managers were left regretting their most recent transfers this weekend.Alejandro Garnacho (£3.6m) was among the top five most-ditched players prior to the Gameweek 8 deadline but he immediately clapped back with an impressive 15-point haul.Only Curtis Jones (£2.7m) earned more points across Saturday and Sunday’s Premier League games.Many gaffers tossed away Garnacho’s 15-point haulCredit: Dream TeamThe Manchester United winger scored a well-executed volley to equalise against Brentford just after half time.Garnacho’s goal was the crowning moment of his performance but that was far from his only significant contribution.The Argentina international caused the Bees all sorts of problems, particularly in the second half, and he registered FIVE shots on target in total – perhaps he should have converted another of his chances.The Dream Team bosses who remained loyal to Garnacho will have been delighted by his efforts nonetheless amid what was generally a low-scoring weekend.And the Gameweek isn’t over yet with the Red Devils due to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.Garnacho was at the heart of Man United’s second-half comebackCredit: AFPThe 20-year-old has climbed up to ninth in the midfield rankings having bumped his tally for the season up to 70 points.Notably, he’s now above Luis Diaz (£4.6m), the third most-selected midfielder in the game.Most read in FootballGarnacho’s 15-point return has prompted plenty of early transfers and he’s currently the third most-popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 9.Erik ten Hag’s side are due to face West Ham (league) and Leicester (Carabao Cup) next Gameweek which has to be considered a relatively favourable double header, especially after the Hammers’ capitulation at Tottenham.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWMan United’s upcoming fixtures appear favourableCredit: PAIn fact, a quick glance at the schedule reveals Garnacho may be a smart option for the next few Gameweeks.Man United will play Chelsea and PAOK in Gameweek 10, Leicester again in Gameweek 11, then Ipswich and Bodo-Glimt in Gameweek 12.Granted, Ten Hag’s side are far from the finished article themselves but most of those match-ups appear ripe with potential.Garnacho has seven goal involvements to his name this season, four goals and three assists, while only Erling Haaland (£8.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) have notched more shots on target.No doubt some of the gaffers who ditched him last week will be crawling back prior to Gameweek 9.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Arsenal’s once reliable defenders starting to creak but should Dream Team bosses hold their nerve?

    DREAM TEAM managers accustomed to Arsenal clean sheets will have noticed a worrying trend of late.Following their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, the Gunners have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five domestic fixtures.Saliba owners endured a miserable Saturday eveningCredit: Dream TeamMikel Arteta’s side did keep PSG at bay in Gameweek 6 but there’s no denying the points have dried up for David Raya (£4.9m) and company recently.Arsenal’s goalkeeper has mustered 13 points from his last four outings, as has Gabriel (£5.4m), while William Saliba (£5.2m) has notched just nine in the same time frame as a result of his much-discussed red card at the Vitality Stadium.The Frenchman was the most-popular defender in Dream Team heading into Gameweek 8 and so plenty of gaffers will be seeking a replacement to step in while the 23-year-old is suspended.It should be noted that Saliba will only miss one game (vs Liverpool) as he was dismissed for a professional foul against the Cherries.Saliba’s red card has prompted an early wave of transfers ahead of Gameweek 9Credit: RexMore broadly, Dream Team bosses will be wondering whether Arsenal’s expensive defensive assets are worth sticking by now the clean sheets have dried up.Last season, the North London side kept 18 clean sheets in the league alone with Manchester City and Everton their closest rivals in the metric on 13 each.At the start of the current campaign, it was normal service resumed as they registered three clean sheets in their first four league games (four in five in all competitions) but they’ve since conceded to Man City, Leicester, Southampton and Bournemouth in succession.Arsenal even conceded a goal to Bolton in their otherwise emphatic Carabao Cup victory in the third round.Most read in FootballThere’s no shame in conceding to Pep Guardiola’s side but given the other opponents, Dream Team managers would have expected at least one domestic clean sheet from the last four Gameweeks.Raya remains Dream Team’s top goalkeeper but his returns have decreased of lateCredit: GettyIt’s been a different story in the Champions League, where they’re yet to concede having drawn 0-0 with Atalanta and dispatched PSG 2-0.A similar outcome at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night would be warmly welcomed by many gaffers.Looking further ahead, Arsenal are set to embark on a relatively tricky run of fixtures from Gameweek 9 onwards.They’re due to host Arne Slot’s league leaders next Sunday with Preston, Newcastle, Inter and Chelsea to follow before the November international break.For such a long time, Dream Team bosses haven’t had to worry about Arsenal defenders at all but they now face a test of patience.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWCalafiori has outscored Gabriel, Raya and Saliba over the last four GameweeksCredit: GettyIt should be noted that Raya still leads the way among keepers with 57 points in total while Gabriel is currently ranked fourth among defenders on 66 points.Additionally, Riccardo Calafiori (£3.8m) has scraped a respectable 21 points from his last four outings thanks to his tackles, shots on target and bonus points.The fact Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester United all failed to keep clean sheets at the weekend meant Arsenal assets weren’t punished to the full extent, although Saliba obviously dropped down the rankings having incurred minus three points.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe situation at the Emirates is not a disaster by any means but Dream Team managers have a decision to make – stick or twist?A solid showing against Shakhtar in midweek would settle a few nerves.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Injuries & suspensions update ahead of Gameweek 8: Latest news on Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Mainoo and other popular players

    DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 8 in one easily digestible dose.Mikel Arteta’s press conference was eagerly anticipated by Dream Team managers worldwide as doubts over several Arsenal players unfolded during the international break.In regards to Bukayo Saka, who is the third-most popular player in the game at present, the Gunners’ head coach said: “Not a serious injury, he’s evolving really well. We are hopeful.”Arteta was relatively optimistic about Saka’s chancesCredit: Dream TeamThe Spanish tactician was slightly less optimistic about Kai Havertz’s chances of making the trip to Bournemouth but did not rule the German forward out, saying: “He had a few issues… if he trains well today [he will be involved].”Late decisions will also be made on Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko – all are considered doubts at this stage.Kieran Trippier has suffered a hamstring injury and will be unavailable for “a few weeks” according to Eddie Howe – Tino Livramento is therefore in line to start at right-back for Newcastle at home to Brighton on Saturday.The Magpies may also be boosted by the return of Alexander Isak with the Sweden international in contention for selection having returned to training.Howe plans to be more protective over Callum Wilson following the striker’s return to training, telling journalists: “Callum has trained but we will continue to assess it day by day. We need to make sure it is the right time when we re-enter him into the group.”Kobbie Mainoo is expected to be sidelined until after the next international break in November.The Manchester United midfielder initially felt something during his side’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at the end of September and pulled out of England’s Nations League squad after playing 85 minutes against Aston Villa.The teenager is likely to miss the Red Devils’ next seven games.Mainoo is facing a stretch on the sidelinesCredit: GettyManuel Ugarte is also due for assessment after he was forced off late in the game for Uruguay against Ecuador.In more positive news for the Old Trafford faithful, Noussair Mazraoui has been declared available by Erik ten Hag, to the surprise of many supporters and pundits.The Moroccan defender underwent minor heart surgery during the international break and there were initial fears he might be out for a while but he’s seemingly ready to play this weekend.Elsewhere, Arne Slot listed Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Kostas Tsimikas as players who need to be assessed following international break concerns.The Dutchman also confirmed that Caoimhin Kelleher will deputise for Alisson while the Brazilian goalkeeper recovers over the next few weeks.Chelsea have a clean bill of health ahead of their trip to Anfield but first-choice defenders Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are suspended.Reece James may make his first appearance of the season.Reece James is fit again after his latest injury setbackCredit: ReutersAnge Postecoglou was happy to report that Son Heung-min and Richarlison are likely to make Spurs’ squad for their home game against West Ham this Saturday lunchtime.”It’s a real positive for us,” said the Australian coach. “Sonny was always, hopefully, going to get through this international break really well and be ready. And Richy’s done some good work so hopefully both will be available for the weekend.”Morgan Gibbs-White is injured and suspended for Gameweek 8 with James Ward-Prowse also set to serve a one-game ban following his dismissal at Chelsea before the break.Mats Selz wasn’t mentioned among Nottingham Forest’s absentees despite concern among fans ahead of Monday night’s meeting with Crystal Palace.As for the Eagles, Oliver Glasner is hopeful he’ll be able to call upon regular starters Adam Wharton and Daniel Munoz, who have progressed well this week.Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola doesn’t expect either Kevin de Bruyne or Nathan Ake to feature against Wolves although the latter might travel with the squad to Molineux.Manuel Akanji and Manchester City’s Brazilian contingent need to be checked today but there are no known concerns of note at this stage.Son is expected to feature against West HamCredit: AlamyJan Paul van Hecke, Georginio Rutter and Simon Adingra are all available for Brighton but Joao Pedro, Adam Webster and Matt O’Riley remain out.Solly March’s return is still being carefully judged by Fabian Hurzeler’s staff with the midfielder having been sidelined for almost a year.Robin Olsen is said to be Aston Villa’s only absentee which implies Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana, Ezri Konsa, Jacob Ramsey, Jaden Philogene and John McGinn will all travel to Fulham.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWARSENALInjuries: Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko (doubt), Martin Odegaard, Ben White (doubt), Jurrien Timber (doubt), Gabriel Martinelli (doubt), Kai Havertz (doubt), Bukayo Saka (doubt)Suspensions: NoneASTON VILLAInjuries: Robin OlsenSuspensions: NoneBOURNEMOUTHInjuries: NoneSuspensions: NoneBRENTFORDInjuries: Aaron Hickey, Igor Thiago, Josh Dasilva, Yoane Wissa (doubt), Gustavo Nunes, Mathias Jensen, Rico HenrySuspensions: NoneBRIGHTONInjuries: Solly March (doubt), Matt O’Riley, James Milner (doubt), Joao Pedro, Adam WebsterSuspensions: NoneCHELSEAInjuries: NoneSuspensions: Wesley Fofana, Marc CucurellaCRYSTAL PALACEInjuries: Matheus Franca, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure (doubt)Suspensions: NoneEVERTONInjuries: Nathan Patterson, Jarrad Branthwaite (doubt), Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja, Tim Iroegbunam, James GarnerSuspensions: NoneFULHAMInjuries: Carlos Vinicius, Jorge Cuenca, Sasa Lukic (doubt), Timothy CastagneSuspensions: NoneIPSWICHInjuries: Jens Cajuste, Axel Tuanzebe, Massimo LuongoSuspensions: NoneLEICESTERInjuries: Patson Daka, Jakub Stolarczyk, Hamza ChoudhurySuspensions: NoneLIVERPOOLInjuries: Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa (doubt), Alisson, Suspensions: NoneMANCHESTER CITYInjuries: Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, RodriSuspensions: NoneMANCHESTER UNITEDInjuries: Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Manuel Ugarte (doubt)Suspensions: NoneNEWCASTLEInjuries: Callum Wilson, Lewis Miley (doubt), Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Matt Targett (doubt), Kieran Trippier, Martin Dubravka Suspensions: NoneNOTTINGHAM FORESTInjuries: Danilo, Ibrahim SangareSuspensions: Morgan Gibbs-White, James Ward-ProwseSOUTHAMPTONInjuries: Gavin Bazunu, Ross StewartSuspensions: Jack StephensTOTTENHAMInjuries: Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall (doubt)Suspensions: NoneWEST HAMInjuries: Niclas FullkrugSuspensions: NoneWOLVESInjuries: Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Boubacar Traore, Bastien Meupiyou (doubt), Yerson Mosquera, Hwang Hee-chanSuspensions: NoneBetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Captaincy options for Gameweek 8: Time for gaffers to revert to the safety of Erling Haaland?

    DREAM TEAM managers who chose to captain Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) over Erling Haaland (£9.1m) in Gameweek 7 were handsomely rewarded.Just prior to the international break, Arsenal’s ‘Star Boy’ took Southampton for 20 points while Manchester City’s No9 mustered just four against Fulham.Saka has outperformed Haaland over the last few GameweeksCredit: GettyThis outcome meant those who opted to double Saka’s return benefited from a significant swing over those who backed Haaland.In fact, the England international has outscored the Norwegian poacher since the start of Gameweek 4 and the latter’s lead at the top of the rankings has been cut to just nine points as a result.It’s simply a fact that gaffers who have captained Saka over Haaland for the last month have had their actions justified.Now the pertinent question is whether the Gunners’ No7 is the optimum skipper for Gameweek 8?One potential blockade is that Saka is an availability doubt having been forced off with an injury while on duty for the Three Lions.Saka looked in discomfort at Wembley during the international breakCredit: SplashIn this morning’s press conference, Mikel Arteta offered some reassurance when he told reporters: “Not a serious injury, he’s evolving really well. We are hopeful.”Arsenal are set to face Bournemouth and Shakhtar Donetsk in Gameweek 8 and given Saka is statistically the most in-form player in Dream Team (based on points earned across last three games) he would obviously be a strong captaincy choice if passed fit.That being said, this may be the Gameweek to revert to the familiar safety of Haaland.Most read in FootballPep Guardiola’s side travel to Molineux this weekend, where they were beaten last season, but a repeat of that upset seems unlikely with Wolves currently bottom of the table having conceded the most leagues goals this season.Haaland will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Wolves’ defenceCredit: GettyCity will then host Sparta Prague in the Champions League in midweek – another relatively favourable match-up.Haaland may not have scored in his last two league outings (a drought by his standards) but it’s worth remembering he has 11 goals to his name in all competitions in 2024/25 – no other Dream Team asset has scored more than six.Certainly the case for captaining Haaland is a strong one, as is usually the case.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWElsewhere, Mohamed Salah (£7.6m) is always among the most-selected skippers but his fixtures aren’t as appealing on paper.Liverpool host fourth-placed Chelsea in the standout Premier League game of the weekend before travelling to RB Leipzig on Wednesday – the German outfit are level on points with Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga at present.Bold gaffers might look to target Tottenham’s double header of West Ham and AZ Alkmaar, both to be played in North London, by captaining Dominic Solanke (£4.4m), James Maddison (£4.5m) or the in-form Brennan Johnson (£3.8m).Johnson’s scoring streak puts him in the captaincy conversationCredit: AFPIt’s a tempting punt on paper but one that will only appeal to managers who enjoy taking risks and going against grain.With Saka seemingly not 100% fit, Haaland appears to be the safe choice for Gameweek 8.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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    Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 8: Caoimhin Kelleher – cheat code or trapdoor?

    THAT’S quite enough Thomas Tuchel discourse for now, it’s time to refocus on Dream Team.Gameweek 8 features a full round of Premier League games followed by seven European fixtures in midweek and it’s imperative you tailor your XI to the schedule if you want to pocket plentiful points.Allow us to propose some transfer recommendations for your consideration – as usual we won’t insult your intelligence by listing obvious names such as Erling Haaland (£9.1m), Mohamed Salah (£7.6m), etc.Bargain or bust?Credit: Dream TeamCaoimhin Kelleher (£2.3m)Liverpool’s second-choice goalkeeper has suddenly become a main character in the world of Dream Team.With Alisson (£5m) expected to be sidelined with injury until the next international break in November, Kelleher is in line to start between the sticks for the league leaders.The Reds have seven fixtures to fulfil across the next four Gameweeks and so the Irishman may be among the busiest players in the game, with ample opportunities to notch points.Kelleher would be an absolute no-brainer if the schedule was on his side but his run in the team is set to coincide with a tricky run of games.Gameweek 8 brings a double header against Chelsea and RB Leipzig with Arsenal, Brighton (x2), Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa to follow.Given the standard of his upcoming opponents, Kelleher may struggle to keep clean sheets but at the bargain price of £2.3m he might be worth a punt.Most read in FootballIt’s a difficult one to judge but it’s not often a starter for a top-tier team is available at such a cheap price.Mr PopularCredit: RexBrennan Johnson (£3.8m)We mentioned the Tottenham winger among our transfer recommendations for Gameweek 7 but it’s worth repeating after he extended his scoring streak to six consecutive games (seven if you include international football).Johnson is by far and away the most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 8 – he’s been the subject of over three times as many transfers as the next most-popular recruit to this point.The Welshman is currently ranked fourth among Dream Team midfielders, just one point shy of third-placed Eberechi Eze (£4.9m).Spurs have the luxury of back-to-back home games in Gameweek 8 in the form of West Ham and AZ Alkmaar.It should be noted that Ange Postecoglou has rotated his squad in the Europa League so far and Johnson only got 25 minutes against Ferencvaros last time out – such is his hot streak he still managed a goal in that time.James Maddison (£4.5m) and Dominic Solanke (£4.4) remain good options.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWTime to shineCredit: PAPhil Foden (£5.9m)Manchester City’s double header in Gameweek 8 looks hugely appealing on paper.The defending champions travel to Molineux this weekend and while they did suffer defeat there last season, Wolves are currently bottom of the table having conceded 21 goals in seven league outings.Pep Guardiola’s side will then host Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday night – the Czech outfit have conceded their fair share of goals this season too.Dream Team bosses will obviously be expecting big things from Haaland but the Norwegian poacher’s returns tend to have relatively little impact on Mini Leagues and overall ranks because he’s so widely owned – he’s also the most-selected captain every Gameweek.Perhaps Foden will offer an secondary route into City’s point this coming Gameweek?The reigning Player of the Year has seemingly regained his place in the starting XI and a return of 19 points from his last two outings served as a reminder of his pedigree.READ MORE SUN STORIESBernardo Silva (£4.2m) and Jeremy Doku (£4.1m) are viable options in a more affordable price range – the latter looked lively for Belgium during the break.Lock in your transfers for Gameweek 8 before Saturday’s 11am deadline.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More